About Us - Our Story

Hello and welcome – we’re Fusion Bags.

We’re a female-led company based in Yorkshire, on a mission to make life easier for musicians. Whether you’re travelling across continents or heading to a local rehearsal, our high-quality gig bags and hybrid instrument cases are designed to help you carry your gear safely, comfortably, and with style.

🎺 Our Story

Fusion Bags began with a simple idea: Musicians on the move deserve better.

Amanda Wheatley, a trumpet player and product designer, spent years creating gig bags for major brands. But time and again, she watched her designs get stripped back — prioritising profit over musicians’ real needs. Protective features were removed, storage space was sacrificed, and comfort was often ignored.

Frustrated but determined, Amanda set out to do things differently.

She dreamed of a gig bag that didn’t just “get by”, but one that truly supported musicians through every part of their journey. A bag that combined proper protection, smart storage, and travel-ready comfort without compromise.

At the time, musicians faced two poor choices:

– Bulky hard cases that offered protection but were awkward to carry on commutes, flights or tours
– Flimsy soft bags that looked good and maybe had backpack straps, but lacked padding and proper storage

Amanda knew musicians deserved better. She shared her idea with friends, and in 2008 Fusion was born.

Amanda Wheatley, Wendy Caldwell and Nicole Szekeres decided to create something new. With backgrounds in music, product design, sales and operations, they set out to fill a gap in the market. Their goal: to create a range of gig bags that musicians would get excited about and genuinely love, bags that offer the perfect blend of practicality, comfort, and performance-driven design.

After months of creative, innovative, and committed work, their first range—over 100 thoughtfully designed gig bags—launched at the Music China Show in Shanghai. Given the world's economic crisis, it was a bold move, but the response was overwhelmingly positive.

From there, Fusion grew quickly. The team exhibited at global trade shows like NAMM Show in California and Musikmesse in Frankfurt, building strong relationships with distributors, retailers, and, most importantly, musicians. In 2014, they launched the Fusion online store. They opened a UK distribution centre, allowing them to connect directly with customers and manage every step of the journey from design to delivery.

Weathering the Storm

In 2020, the music world stood still. Tours were cancelled, gigs were postponed, and many musicians found themselves isolated from their communities. It was a challenging time for everyone, but also a moment to reconnect.

Bringing people together

The pandemic was challenging, but out of the difficulty, a new idea was born: MusicCannotBeConfined. We launched collaborative projects with artists around the world, including “Lovely Day,” a heartwarming remote recording that brought 17 Fusion artists together from different countries without ever meeting in person. These projects reminded us that music continues to unite and inspire, no matter the circumstances.

Since then, Fusion has continued to grow and to collaborate on projects like Peace Song and we have a stronger-than-ever focus on purpose, community, and the real-world needs of musicians.

Our Mission

We design gig bags that are protective, stylish, and practical – crafted with care, innovation, and insight from musicians. Our mission is to make travelling and performing with your instrument a better experience.

Our Values

• Creativity & Innovation – We listen, test, and improve constantly to design smarter solutions for musicians.
• Community – We collaborate closely with players, retailers, and partners worldwide.
• Positivity & Passion – We believe in the power of music and approach everything we do with heart.

The Artists We Work With

We’re proud to work with an inspiring and diverse global community of musicians – our #FusionBagsArtist family – who rely on Fusion bags to protect their instruments through every gig, session, and tour. These artists span genres, countries and stages—from Grammy® Award winners and session greats to international soloists and long-time collaborators.

Our community includes:

• Juan García-Herreros (The Snow Owl) – internationally acclaimed bass soloist for The World of Hans Zimmer concert tour.
• El Amir (Amir John Haddad) – flamenco guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who tours with Hans Zimmer and recorded on No Time To Die.
• Josiah Woodson – Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist and producer of Beyoncé’s Love On Top.
• Winston Rollins, Derek Nash, and Phil Veacock – long-standing members of Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra.
• Swiss Chris – world-touring drummer and music director for John Legend.
• Jake Morelli (JMo) – acclaimed guitarist, producer and musical director who has played with Bruno Mars, Roberta Flack, Ed Sheeran, The Roots, Esperanza Spalding, Queen Latifah, and more.

And the list goes on – we’re fortunate to collaborate with artists across genres and continents, from jazz and classical to funk, pop, and experimental music. Their stories, performances, and experiences shape who we are as a company.

Our artist collaborations – including #MusicCannotBeConfined and the Peace Song – reflect the power of music to connect people, even when we’re miles apart. Their talent continues to inspire everything we do.

What Makes Fusion Bags Different?

At Fusion, we don’t just make gig bags — we design solutions for real musicians with real lives.

Each Fusion Bag is created to solve the everyday challenges musicians face when travelling with their instruments. From commuting across town to touring across continents, our bags are built to go the distance.

Here’s what sets us apart:

🎒 Comfortable to Carry

Our ergonomic backpack system and optional chest and waist straps make even heavy gear feel manageable. Whether walking to rehearsal or running through an airport, Fusion Bags are built with long journeys in mind.

🧠 Clever Storage

Say goodbye to juggling multiple bags. With spacious compartments, dedicated pockets for accessories, and even options to carry laptops or sheet music, our bags help you stay organised on the go.

🔗 Modular ‘Fuse-On’ System

Need more space? Our unique Fuse-On system lets you attach accessory bags to your main gig bag, customising your setup to fit your gig, tour or teaching schedule.

🛡️ Serious Protection

We use high-density foam padding, reinforced panels and durable water-resistant fabrics to keep your instrument safe, without the bulk of a hard case.

🌍 Designed by Musicians, for Musicians

Every zip, strap, and pocket is tested by players who know what it’s like to carry gear day in and day out. We design from experience, not guesswork.

Meet the Founders

Amanda Wheatley – Design Director
A trumpet player and product designer, Amanda leads with innovation and practicality, ensuring every Fusion bag meets real-world needs.

Wendy Caldwell – Operations Director
Wendy manages the day-to-day running of the business, from logistics to customer care, with care and attention to detail.

Nicole Szekeres – Managing Director
Nicole leads our partnerships, artist collaborations, and business strategy, bringing energy and a global perspective to the Fusion vision.

 

From the beginning, Fusion Bags has been about more than just making cases – it's about supporting musicians and making their journeys easier. If you're already part of the Fusion family, thank you. If you're new to us, we’re so glad you’ve found us.

Want to see what our artists are up to?
Follow us on Instagram @fusiongigbags and explore the community via #FusionBagsArtist and #MusicCannotBeConfined.

Let's make music happen.
The Fusion Bags Team